4777. RB to William Wetmore Story & Emelyn Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 218–219.
[Florence]
Friday Mg [9 November 1860] [1]
Dear Friends,
I write in all haste to save the post—but have only to tell you that the enclosed Bill was brought to me this Morning by the Proprietor of the Villa de Lyon,—he begs you to pay the amount to Brown, Casa Fausti, near the Corso—his agent: I would have paid it, of course, but thought the more prudent way would be to send it to yourself.
How I wish we had been “off” a fortnight ago! The cold is greatly inconveniencing Ba already—we shall take the first mild day & run for our lives, depend upon it. You know how you are missed by us all. Love to you from Ba, Pen &
Yours affectionately ever
Robert Browning.
Page is writing on Art in the “Indept” [2] —I will bring the numbers. I send the third “Galignani” with this, & directed a letter to you on Tuesday. I have got Landor photographed in very deed—& am presently to receive a proof: he vowed he would commit no such folly, up to the last moment.
Publication: BAF, pp. 65–66.
Manuscript: University of Texas.
1. Year provided by RB’s reference to Page’s articles “on Art” (see note 2 below). Day and month based on RB’s implication that the Storys had recently left Florence. They departed for Rome on 5 November, a Monday.
2. William Page contributed a series of articles to The Independent entitled “The Italian Schools of Painting.” They appeared under the following individual titles: “Raphael and the Pre-Raphaelites” (11 October 1860, p. 1); “Raphael and His School” (18 October 1860, p. 1); “The Venetian School and Titian” (25 October 1860, p. 1); and “Titian” (1 November 1860, p. 1).
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